When an elementary school learns that its upcoming 4th grade class will include 10 students with special needs, six of whom have significant disabilities, it decides to include these students in a large team-taught classroom. There, everyone belongs--students with disabilities, English language learners, gifted math students, and avid and…

Whenever educators talk about raising achievement, grade-level standards are most frequently the end goal for student learning. But what about students who have already met some, if not all, of those standards and who master material quickly and in-depth? Advanced and gifted learners often languish in our schools because teachers don't have the…

Schools need to address the needs of their students with high ability. Not only does this raise achievement levels schoolwide, it also attracts students from surrounding districts and recaptures advanced learners who left the school because their needs weren't being met. One practical intervention--cluster grouping--provides an inclusive…

The way we define excellence dictates the way we achieve it. The author looks at four models of excellence that operate in schools today. The first looks only at the lowest-performing students, focusing all resources on getting these students to score above "proficient" on standardized tests so that the school will be in compliance with…

Refutes the myths surrounding gifted students that may still influence how they are educated. Suggests ways to improve the classroom learning experience for these students. (Contains 12 references.) (PKP)

In 1982, the Duvall County Public Schools in Jacksonville, Florida, launched the Potential National Merit Scholars Program because the superintendent believed that students could qualify by intent, not accident. Several special programs to identify and prepare students, including the superintendent's 100 Super Scholars and summer think camps, are…

The Enrichment Triad Model (Triad) and the Revolving Door Identification model (RDIM) form the TRIAD/RDIM program model for gifted and talented students. The article outlines the key features of the program. (MD)

A North Carolina district that launched a differentiation program for gifted students discovered that all students benefit. Interested districts should start by offering staff development to a small, interested group of teachers; build on teachers' existing practices; target resources; and support teacher collaboration. (MLH)

Describes a model for educating students of widely varying abilities in the same classroom by combining a base of common activities and opportunities for special independent projects. (Author/JM)

Julian Stanley, director of Johns Hopkins University's Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth, heads a national search for those who may become tomorrow's leading scientists. In this interview Stanley tells how students can qualify for the program and offers advice on educating the gifted. (Author/MLF)

Although previous reviews of acceleration outcomes have been markedly positive, practitioners have markedly negative perceptions of acceleration's efficacy. This article reviews and evaluates academic, social, and emotional benefits of early school entrance, grade skipping, nongraded classrooms, curriculum compacting, grade telescoping, concurrent…

A robotics program involving students from a county vocational-technical school and the high school gifted program provides students with wide-ranging educational experiences and is establishing links between the school population and the universities. (MLF)

A meta-analysis of 26 studies shows that accelerated gifted students outperform students of the same age and ability who are not accelerated and achieve as well as equally gifted older students in the higher grades. Correlational studies suggest that accelerates are equally successful later in life. (MLF)

Summarizes some of the major contrasts between talent development and elementary secondary schooling revealed from studying the learning and developmental processes of talented pianists, swimmers, and mathematicians. Interviews were conducted with approximately 25 individuals in each field, their parents, and some of their outstanding teachers.…

Educators can provide sound interventions for gifted students if they carefully consider their special needs, based on their characteristics. The learning needs of gifted students are delineated, based on their characteristics, and curriculum implications are derived. (TE)